Nadal rallies to reach fourth round in Miami

KEY BISCAYNE, FL – MARCH 26: Rafael Nadal of Spain is congratulated by Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany after his three set win at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 26, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. Julian Finney/Getty Images/AFP.JULIAN FINNEY / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

Rafael Nadal came back from an awful first set to defeat Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 and advance to the fourth round of the Miami Open on Sunday.

The Spaniard, playing his 1,000th ATP match, suffered just the 14th 0-6 set of his career, claiming just 33 percent of first serve points won and making a string of unforced errors.

After looking badly out of sorts, Nadal was able to rediscover his form in the second set and in the end ran out a comfortable winner.

Nadal said that there was little he could do against Kohlschreiber’s outstanding play in the opening set.

“He was doing everything good. So that’s sport, as I said hundred of times and when somebody is playing the way that he was playing the first set … he was playing too good. That’s it,” said Nadal.

“The positive thing is I handled the pressure very well after a very tough first set. I resisted well the first few games of the second, and then I think I played a great second and third set,” he said.

Nadal said the key to his comeback had been his ability to change the tempo and rhythm of the match.

“It was obvious that the points had been too quick. He was able to return so quick and to hit every ball as hard as he could. So I needed to play a little bit longer points.

“It’s not about being more or less aggressive, it’s about changing a little bit the position on the court. I went back on the return. I tried to play a little bit higher balls against his backhand.

“That happened …and I think my serve worked so good in the second and third set,” added Nadal, who next faces France’s Nicolas Mahut. Mahut beat Argentine Guido Pella 6-4 6-3.

Verdasco has yet to post a win against a top ten opponent this year but showed plenty of spirit in a two hours 44 minute contest on center court at Crandon Park fighting back to win a second set tie-break.

But Nishikori stepped up in the third, running away with the set to ensure his progress.

“I knew it was going to be a tough one,” Nishikori said. “Fernando is a very solid player. He has a great serve and great groundstrokes. I knew it was going to be long rallies.

“But it was a shame when I was up a break in both first and second sets and both went to 7-6. I made some mistakes when I was up a break. But in the third set I was very focused,” he added.

Injury-plagued world number five Milos Raonic pulled out of the tournament shortly before his match against American Jared Donaldson, citing a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

Canada’s Raonic originally suffered the injury in the semi-final at Delray Beach and was forced to forfeit the final against American Jack Sock. He then missed this month’s Masters event at Indian Wells.